Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today began his official engagements by handing over appointment letters to three persons with disabilities for making physically challenged people self-reliant and their integration to mainstream society. 

The premier provided the appointment letters to them at his Cabinet Division office at the Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning, said Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

Shiplu said the appointments were made to help persons with disabilities become self-reliant through employment and integrating them into the mainstream society. 

The three recipients are Ayesha Akter from Saghata upazila of Gaibandha, Neela Khatun from Kamarkhand upazila of Sirajganj and Md Hasmat Ali from Narail Sadar upazila. 

The recipients expressed their joy after receiving the appointment letters directly from the Prime Minister, describing the day as the beginning of both a new professional journey and new aspirations.

Neela Khatun, who was born without both hands, completed her master's degree by writing with her feet. She has been appointed as a teacher at the National Foundation for the Development of the Disabled in Mirpur, Dhaka.

Ayesha Akter also completed her master's degree by writing with her feet. As she has no hands, she received her appointment letter with her mouth. She has been appointed as a class supervisor at BIAM Laboratory School and College in Gaibandha.

Meanwhile, visually impaired Md Hasmat Ali has been appointed as a Union Social Worker under the Department of Social Services.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister  Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Farzana Sharmin Putul, Social Welfare Secretary Dr Mohammad Abu Yusuf, Managing Director of the National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (NFDD) Md Tarikul Alam and Director General of the Department of Social Services Shah Mohammad Mahbub, among others, were present. 

Founder of the Bangladesh Protibondhi Kalyan Somity Abdus Sattar Dulal thanked the Prime Minister for providing employment opportunities to the three persons with disabilities. 

Dulal called on the Prime Minister immediately after the appointment letter handing over ceremony to express his gratitude, the Deputy Press Secretary said.